In-car safety technology

Car safety technology explained

Cars now manufacturers offer a broad choice of different features that can help keep you safe while driving. Many of these technologies will be useful to older or disabled motorists because they can help with specific tasks that some people may find difficult, like steering or parking.

Parking and braking systems

Parking

Parallel parking (reversing a car into a space between two other parked cars) can be a challenge to many people. Turning the steering wheel the right amount at the right time requires precise judgment and good all-round visibility. This action can be even more difficult if you have restricted upper body movement.

Technology can help the driver with parking in two ways:

Providing an audio or visual alert to inform how close the vehicle is to other parked cars

Taking control of the steering wheel and turning it to the correct position for the space

Braking

Advances in braking technology are shown in the range and scope of autonomous and semi-autonomous braking systems now available.

Since 2007, anti-lock braking systems (ABS) have been fitted to new cars in the European Union (EU) by law. When the system detects that a wheel is no longer rotating and is starting to skid, the ABS will release the brake for a very short amount of time and then reapply the brake.

These early ABSs have evolved to include additional sensors, providing more sophisticated car controls such as:

Emergency brake assist (EBA)

Electronic stability control (ESC)

Cornering brake control (CBC)

Traction control system (TCS)

EBA - will apply extra force to the brake if the system detects a sudden and relatively hard force applied to the brake.

ESC, CBC and TCS - control the braking of individual wheels to prevent or minimise spins and sideways skids whilst cornering.

We would like to thank the GEM Road Safety Charity and Motability's Tenth Anniversary Trust for funding this research.

See also:

Car search here - search by make, model and measurements and accessibility features of over 1,400 cars